Each of us has experienced back pain at least once - from mild malaise to painful thoracolumbargia (pain in the lower back, chest area). Disturbing low back discomfort can be one of the manifestations of a wide range of diseases from time to time.
The most common cause of pain is osteochondrosis of the spine, which occurs in most people after 35-40 years. However, it does not explain the severity and duration of the pain. To understand the nature of the disease, it is necessary to understand in detail the problem and its origin.
Causes
There are many answers to the question of why your back hurts. The main mechanisms of the pain syndrome remain dystrophic and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, subluxation of the joints and compression of the nerve endings of the spine increase the symptoms.
Let's look at the different causes of low back pain:
- Primary diseases of the spine: intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, arthritis.
- Injuries, bruises, fractures, tumors. They are listed as secondary causes of pain syndrome.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Nephrological: sand or kidney stones.
- In women, pain can additionally occur with gynecological problems and even during menstruation.
Triggers for pain syndrome:
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work. This item includes a long stay behind the wheel of a car or computer monitor;
- overweight, obesity;
- pregnancy involves a combination of weakened back muscles and weight gain;
- excessive physical activity (in everyday life or in the gym);
- hypothermia of the body.
Possible diseases
The nature of the pain directly depends on the disease that provoked the symptom. In primary pathology (arthritis, intervertebral hernias) the lower back hurts monotonously: the pain increases or decreases with a change in body position. It is accompanied by a feeling of tingling, burning, alternating tingling in the lower extremities. The dull pain observed in lumbosacral radiculitis is felt by the patient not only in the back, but also in the buttocks, legs and thighs.
Diseases of the internal organs (angina pectoris, pyelonephritis)are characterized by a more pronounced and prolonged nature of the pain, which continues after rest or change in body position. So in gynecological problems the lower abdomen is additionally worried, and in cardiovascular pathologies there is shortness of breath and shortness of breath.
Important! Specific pain in the lumbar region in combination with high fever may be a manifestation of emergencies - renal or gallstone colic, unstable angina pectoris.
Aggravated osteochondrosisis manifested by sharp, shooting pains - lumbago ("lumbago"), radiating to the legs, pelvis when coughing or rapid movements. Disc herniations have characteristic features:
- tilting is impossible without the first squat;
- difficult lifting without support (chair, knee);
- In the supine position, the patient is forced to put on a pillow.
Inflammatory processes (myositis, radiculitis)occur with painful pain and inability to perform basic actions, as the simplest movements are limited by the pain syndrome.
Fractures and dislocationsare accompanied by intense, growing pain, swelling of the affected area. The skin above the painful surface changes color to blue or red (depending on the nature of the injury).
How to get rid of low back pain
Excessive physical activity or prolonged exposure to drafts in the near future will lead to back discomfort. Let's take a closer look at the simple and quick help for a familiar, annoying pain.
If the pain syndrome occurs after hypothermia or inflammation of the roots of the spinal cord (sciatica), a warm shower will help. Any physical activity is contraindicated after bath procedures. Pain relief ointments provide warming, decongestant and anti-inflammatory effects.
The pain of osteochondrosis can be reduced thanks to anti-inflammatory ointments and gels, as well as special exercises to relieve intervertebral discs and the muscular corset.
Bruising or sprains cause increased swelling. A dry cold compress (ice from the freezer wrapped in a towel) will help reduce or prevent it. Apply every two hours for two days on the painful focus for half an hour.
It is worth remembering that only a specialist can correctly diagnose the cause of pain and prepare a treatment program. Therefore, we recommend that if you have anxiety symptoms, you should make an appointment for a consultation at our clinic.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
Western medicine is represented by three main therapeutic areas:
- medicated;
- non-medicinal;
- surgically.
Drug treatment includes taking pills and external application of ointments, gels, patches. The main groups of drugs:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs (relieve pain, inflammation);
- heparin ointments (relieve puffiness, improve venous outflow);
- papaverine ointments (relieve pain, relieve pain spasms, dilate blood vessels);
- chondroprotectors (restore cartilage tissue);
- muscle relaxants (remove muscle tension).
A course of injections is prescribed to prevent chronic conditions. The course of treatment of lumbar pain almost always includes injections of B vitamins. They improve metabolic processes and the recovery of nerve fibers, stabilize the work of the central and peripheral nervous system and restore the transmission of impulses. Analgesics are added to the composition of the drug to enhance the therapeutic effect. Vitamins are combined with NSAIDs.
In acute conditions, doctors perform therapeutic blockades. They are most often used in diseases of the spine and joints. The doctor injects both anti-inflammatory drugs and adrenal hormones. Prednisolone or dexamethasone (the main representatives of the group) anesthetize the affected area, relieve swelling.
Non-drug therapy includes physiotherapy - massage, cold treatment (cryotherapy), warming of the affected areas. Physiotherapy is usually prescribed for subacute conditions or remission.
Surgical treatment. Surgical intervention is used in extreme cases - in malignant tumors, destruction of the spinal cord, compression fractures. Surgical treatment of disc herniation causes professional controversy: the positive effect of surgery is often not justified and the risk of complications is too high.
Preventive measures:
- Do morning exercises, be sure to include exercises to stretch the muscles of the lower back.
- Proper nutrition. Fried, salty, starchy foods, alcohol - all that contributes to the development of gastrointestinal diseases should be excluded. You need to add fiber, vitamins to the diet, cook meat and fish steamed or in the oven. To improve blood circulation and production of interstitial fluid, it is recommended to drink up to 1, 5 liters of water (in the absence of contraindications).
- Monitor your posture.
- Walk or exercise periodically in case of sedentary work.
- It is recommended to sleep on orthopedic pillows and mattresses.
Treatment at the Tibetan Medical Clinic
Tibetan traditional medicine views lumbodinia as a violation of the three constitutions. The indignant dosha Bile spasms the muscles of the back. Excited mucus leads to endocrine problems, metabolic disorders. Excess constitution The wind (responsible for the nervous system) worsens the disharmony of the other two constitutions.
Eastern doctors help not only to eliminate the symptoms, but also to understand the cause of the disease and deal with it.
You will not be asked to "block" the problem with pills, hormones and injections at the clinic. After diagnosing the disease with the help of ancient Eastern techniques, the patient will receive an individual treatment plan. Basic sample of treatments used by doctors of Tibetan medicine:
- Adjustment of nutrition and restoration of mental comfort, emotional background.
- Herbal medicines. Herbal and herbal preparations will deal with the problem from within. The multi-component Tibetan preparations restore the balance between the three constitutions "Wind", "Mucus", "Bile". The unique collections not only stop the symptom, but also have a healing effect on the whole body.
- Acupuncture. The effect of the needles on the bioactive points relieves vascular and muscle spasm, increases blood flow to the damaged areas of the back.
- Acupressure massage. The specialist presses his fingers on the points of the energy meridians, working with chronic diseases of the internal organs.
- Blended massage (vacuum) improves the microcirculation not only of the painful areas, but also of the whole organism.
- Moxotherapy. The wormwood cigar restores the balance of the three doshas, the integrity of the whole system. Stone therapy. Cold and hot stones neutralize swelling and inflammation.
- Tubotherapy is one of the options for acupuncture using metal balls. Small balls are applied with plaster in bioactive points for up to 2 weeks.
- Hirudotherapy - cleansing the unclean body with leeches, normalizing metabolic processes in the body.
The effectiveness of Tibetan methods for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system has been proven and confirmed by our patients.